Labeled container and method of recording data thereon



Jan. 20, 1970 1 W, P|PER' TAL 3,490,163

LABELED CONTAINER AND METHOD OF' RECORDING DATA THEREON Filed Feb. 2l, 1968 United States Patent O 3,490,163 LABELED CONTAINER AND METHOD OF RECORDING DATA THEREON John William Piper and Peter Robeit Dennis Styles,

Surrey, England, assignors to Vickers Limited, London, England, a British company t Filed Feb. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 707,265 Claix'ils priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 1, 1967, 9,796/ 66 Int. Cl. G09f 3/00; B65d 55/02 U.S. Cl. 40-310 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aliquid container made at least partially of translucent material and having a plurality of indentations in at least onejzsurface thereof and a label of light-reflecting material having a plurality of identification markings thereon. The label is attached over the indented surface and, depending on the data to be recorded, portions of the label with identification markings thereon are partially severed froin the label surface and pushed inwardly to enter the indentations. With these partially severed portions pushed inwardly light 'rays projected on to a translucent surface of the container extending substantially transversely to the label bearing translucent surface will pass through thecontainer behind the label and be deflected by the invsfardly pushed reflecting label portions out through the label bearing surface for visual or mechanical observation.

"Ehis invention relates to the recording of data and is concerned with a method of marking a labelled container and apparatus for recording data relating to the contents or a container.

rlQhe invention is particularly suitable for use in hospitals/where it is desired to record data relating to blood or, other liquid samples obtained from patients. With each such sample, there must be an indication of the origin of the sample, for example the patient from whom thej sample was obtained and the hospital or clinic attended by the patient.

ccording to the invention there is provided a method of marking a labelled at least partially translucent container to identify the contents thereof, the container label haying a plurality of identification markings on a lightreecting surface thereof and being attached on a translucent surface of the container having a plurality of indentations therein with said identification markings each overlying an indentation, wherein at least one selected portion of the label bearing markings is partially served and pushed inwards relative to the label surface to enter the underlying indentation in such manner that the" container marking may subsequently be observed by passing light rays through a further translucent surface of said container extending substantially transversely to the label bearing surface and behind the label to fall on the reiiecting surface of said pushed in label portion and be deflected thereby out through said label bearing surface at a location determined by said pushed in label portion.

For carrying out the above method the invention further provides the combination of a liquid container made at least partially of translucent material and having at least one translucent surface provided with a series of iridentations and a label of light-refiecting material having a plurality of identification markings thereon and being attached or attachable over said container surface with said markings each overlying an indentation in such manner that one or more selected portions of said label may be partially severed and pushed inwards relative to 3,490,163 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 the label surface to enter the underlying indentation thereby to provide one or vmore deecting surfaces for changing the course of light rays when projected on to a further translucent surface of the container extending substantially transversely to the label bearing surface to pass through the container behind the label and fall on said deecting surface or surfaces and be deflected thereby out of the label bearing surface of the container at a location or locations determined by the or each inwardly pushed label portion.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one embodiment of a container will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a liquid container of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the container shown in FIGURE l,

FIGURE 3 is a view, similar to FIGURE 2, and shows the container provided with an identification label, and

FIGURE 4 is drawn on a larger scale and shows the container of FIGURES l to 3 located in an inspection stand.

Referring now to the drawing, a liquid container 1 of rectangular configuration is made of glass, plastics or other transparent material. Such a container is conveniently made of a high duty clear polystyrene. The front and rear surfaces 2 and 3 respectively of the container 1 are large in comparison to the end edges 4 and 5 and the side edges 6 and 7 thereof and the container, which is closable by a cap (not shown) of similar material, is dimensioned to contain approximately 5 cc. of liquid.

The front surface 2 of the container 1 has a series of parallel grooves 8 channelled therein and extending from the top edge 4 to the bottom edge 5 thereof. In the ernbodiment illustrated there are six such grooves.

In order to record data relating to a liquid contained in the container 1 a label 9 of metal foil or other light reflecting material is attached on the front surface 2 over these grooves 8. The label 9 is attached by a suitable adhesive to the ridges 10 separating the grooves 8 and, as shown in FIGURE 3, has six columns of figures arranged in such manner that with the label attached on the front surface as aforesaid, the columns extend one above each of the grooves. In a preferred embodiment, a pressure sensitive adhesive is used to attach the label 9 to the container 1. The figures in the columns are set out in the manner of a conventional punch card with ten digitszero to nine-in each column and with similar digits positioned side-by-side in adjacent columns.

The label 9 is comprehensively perforated so that perf orations extend around three sides of each digit. The fourth side of each digit is left unperforated and in this manner the label portions bearing the digits may selectively be pressed out of the plane of the label and pushed inwardly into the associated grooves by rupturing the perforations with a blunt tool and hinging the digit bearing portion about the unperforated side. FIGURE 4 shows three digit bearing label portions pushed inwardly into the associated grooves in this manner.

The inwardly hinged label portions are not bent at right angles to the remaining label surface but, as shown in FIGURE 4, are deflected inwardly through approximately 45.

In order clearly to indicate each pushed-in label portion the container 1 is placed in a stand and a beam of light is directed into said container through a side edge thereof which is normal to the label bearing surface. This light beam passes through the transparent container wall behind the label and is deflected out of the label bearing surface by the inwardly hinged label portion. Although 3 FIGURE 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention to =be described hereinafter in which both the front surface 2 and the rear surface 3 of the container 1 each have a label attached thereon, this figure clearly shows how light rays 11 from a source 12 pass through the side edge 6 and are reflected 'forwardly at 13.

If one digit bearing label portion in each column is pushed inwardly as aforesaid, then a pattern of light dots will show up n the label surface when the beam of light is ydirected on the side edge. Furthermore, if the digit bearing portions are pushed inwardly in a pattern determined by the liquid in the container, for example to denote a given six ligure reference number, then this pattern will be sufficient at some later date to denote the contents of the container.

The pattern of light may obviously be observed and recorded visually but advantageously an automatic scanning is effected by a bank of photoelectric cells (not shown). During such a scanning operation it is important that the container be correctly orientated to ensure that the light pattern is correctly read. To this end the container is provided with a slot or keyway 14 to facilitate location thereof during said scanning operation.

As stated hereinbefore, advantageously both front and rear surfaces 2 and 3 are grooved as aforesaid and light rellecting labels 9, 9 are attached on these opposite surfaces of the container and the amount of information which may be recorded is increased accordingly.

fuging machine. l f

As stated hereinbefore, the digit bearing portions of the label are preferably hinged inwardly through approximately 45. To support these inwardly hinged portions in position, one edge wall of each groove is bevelled to provide a support surface 1S which is upwardly inclined at the desired angle. On hinging a label portion inwardly as aforesaid, the pressure sensitive adhesive will permanently adhere said portion to the support surface 1S of the associated groove. The bevelled wall support surface of each groove is obviously that which is furthest from the container side edge through which the light beam passes.

In the case of six grooves, each of the three grooves to one side of the centre line of the container advantageously has a bevelled wall inclined in such manner that digit bearing label portions are directed towards one side edge of the container whereas each of the three grooves on the opposite side of the centre line has a bevelled wall which is inclined in such manner that the digit bearing label portions are directed towards the opposite side edge of the container. With this arrangement, as shown in FIGURE 4, two light sources 12, l2' are positioned one on each side of the container 1 for scanning or illuminating as aforesaid.

For scanning or illuminating the light from the or each source is not projected in a parallel path on to the respective side edge of the container since light travelling in a parallel path would be deliected from the first inwardly hinged label portion encountered and not from any subsequent hinged portions in line therewith. The light is therefore projected in the manner shown in FIG- URE 4 at an angle on to the respective side edge of the container.

The container of the invention is particularly suitable for use in hospitals and if labels are attached on the front and rear surfaces as aforesaid, then one label may be used to record a patients personal number and the other label may be used to record the code number of the hospital or clinic attended.

In the above-described embodiment the container 1 is closable by a separate cap (not shown). However, in certain circumstances, the container may be closed by an extension of the self-adhesive light-reflecting label.

As stated hereinbefore, the container is transparent and with such a container the contents, for example a blood sample, may be optically inspected through the side edges. However, although advantageously transparent, it will be appreciated that it is only essential for 4 the container to permit the passage of light rays therethrough and, in fact, a translucent but not transparent container would serve this purpose. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that only those parts of the container through which light rays will pass must be translucent and it would therefore be possible to employ a container in which only these parts are translucent.

Advantageously, the inside of the container 1 is chemically treated with`anti-coagulants when said container is used for storing blood samples. Furthermore, in cases where it is necessary to centrifugerblood samples prior to inspection, the container, which is of suitably rugged construction, may be inserted directly into a centri- Finally, if desired, the label 9 may be provided with a tear-off extension (not shown) on which details of the patient and the sample origin or other memoranda may be writen.

We claim:

1. A method of marking a labelled at least partially translucent container to identify the contents thereof, the container label having a plurality of identification markings on a light-reflecting surface thereof and being attached on a translucent surface of the container having a plurality of identations thereinwith said identification markings each overlying an indentation, said method comprising the steps of partially severing at least one selected portion of the label bearing an identitication marking and pushing said partially severed portion inwardly into the underlying indentation whereby the container marking may subsequently be observed by passing light rays through a further translucent surface of the container extending substantially transversely to the label bearing surface and behind the label to fall on the reflecting surface of said pushed in label portion and be deflected thereby out through said label bearing surface at a location determined by said pushed in label portion.

2. The combination of a liquid container having a series of indentations in at least one translucent surface thereof and a label of light-reflecting material having a plurality of identification markings thereon, said label being attachable over said container surface with said markings each overlying an identation whereby at least one portion of said label bearing an identification marking may be partially severed and pushed inwards relative to the label surface to enter the underlying indentation and light rays may be projected on to a further translucent surface of the container extending substantially transversely to this label Ibearing surface to pass behind the label and fall on said inwardly pushed label portion and be deflected thereby out through the label bearing surface of the container.

3. A combination' as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container having translucent surfaces is at least partially transparent. Y

4. A combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein a j series of indentations are provided on each of two opposite outer surfaces of the container adapted to receive a label of light-reflecting material.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein iridentations in the label bearing surface are in the form of a series of grooves each extending substantially from top to bottom of said surface. 1

6. A combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein one wall of each groove is bevelled to form an angled seating for an inwardly pushed portion of the label in such manner that, with said portion seated on the bevelled wall part, light rays projected on to a surface of said container extending substantially transversely to the label bearing surface and passing through said container behind said label will fall on the inwardly pushed label portion and be deiiected thereby.`

5 ner that light rays passed through the container behind the label from each side thereof will fall on the deecting surfaces of inwardly pushed label portions.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 2 comprising perforations around three sides of each identication marking on the label of light-reecting material to facilitate partial severing thereof and pushing the partially severed portion inwardly to enter the associated indentation.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein an extension of the label is adapted to close the container.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 2 comprising means provided on the container to facilitate the desired positioning thereof during observation of the location of deected light rays.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 648,063 4/ 1900 Bauman 40-310 X EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner WILLIAM H. GRIEB, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 215-7 

